Baku:FIFA has extended its appreciation to the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) for the exemplary refereeing standards at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, conducted in Azerbaijan from October 22 to 30, 2026.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina expressed his admiration in a letter to AFFA Secretary General Jahangir Farajullayev. Collina highlighted the superior organization and execution of refereeing at the event, attributing its success to the professional preparation and strong organizational skills demonstrated by the AFFA Referees Committee and Refereeing Department.
Collina further commended the efforts of all AFFA staff involved in the organization and officiating of the matches, particularly acknowledging the Azerbaijani referees for their significant contributions to the event’s success. Out of the 86 referees who officiated the matches, 80 were Azerbaijani, with additional referees from Georgia and Türkiye contributing to the tournament.